Towel rack



H. J. HARVEY TOWEL RACK June 18, 1929.

Filed Aug. 16, 192 8 ln'uentvr Attarnqy Patented June 18, 1929.

A UNITED STAT-ES HUG-H J. HARVEY, OF LOCUST GAP, PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

TOWEL RAGE.

Application filed August 18, 1928. Serial No. 300,006.

The present invention pertains to new and useful improvements in towel racks and has a more specific reference to a towel rack of the usual roll type. The prime object of the invention is to provide a rack of this class wherein the roll element is manually rotatable, and wherein means is provided for guiding the towel on the roll.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel towel rack of the roll type for use with the usual endless towel strip, wherein the said strip may be wound by the roll for concealment beneath a hood employed in conjunction with this invention.

Still another object of the invention resides in means whereby the roll may be quickly removed from the rack to permit the replacement of a towel strip thereon.

After considering the following specification and claim, other important advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal partial sectional view of the improved towel rack, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the rack, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, an elongated base 1 may be secured to a side wall or to the rear side of a door which, of course, is optional.

A pair of end walls 22 are secured to the base 1 and preferably adjacent the ends thereof. These end walls are of substantially circular formation. One of the end walls is formed with a pocket 3 over which a cover plate 4: is adapted for secured disposition.

A stub shaft 5 is journaled through the plate 4 and is formed with a key slot 6, in

its inner end. A tubular shell 7 is arranged through the opposite end wall and has its inner end portion reduced as designated by numeral 8. The flanged bushing 9 is disposed within the shell at the inner end of the reduced portion 8, While the coiled spring 10 serves to normally urge the said bushing outwardly in the position shown in Figure 1.

An elongated round bar 11 has its opposite ends bent laterally, one of Which is connected to wrap edgewise.

to the stub shaft 5. The opposite bent portion of the bar 11 is formed with an opening through which the reduced portion 8 ofthe shell 7 is adapted to project.

An elongated roll 12 is provided, with a key 13 at one end adapted for engagement within the key slot 6 of the stub shaft. The opposite end of the roll 12 is provided with a pintle 14 adapted for journaled engagement within the reduced portion 8 of the shell 7. An endless type of towel strip 15 may be arranged over the roll 12, with its flights disposed backwardly of the bar 11.

The sprocket wheel 16 is geared to the outer end of the stub shaft 5, while an endless drive element 17 is adapted for mesh with the sprocket and to depend in the manner shown in Fig. 1. An elongated hood of semi-circular cross section is designated by numeral 18 and hingedly connected as at 19 to the base 1, in a manner to permit the opposite ends thereof to engage the curved surface of the end walls 22 in the manner shown by dotted lines in Figure 2.

By adtuating element 17, the stub shaft 5 will be rotated, consequently resulting in the rotation of the roll 12, and the bar 11. The strip 15 will be thus wound on both the roll 12 and the bar 11.

It is preferable that the bar 11 be of spring metal, so that the same will flex somewhat during the wrapping of the strip 15 thereover. The bar 11 is also preferably longitudinally curved so that the strip will be centralized on the roll and will not tend When it is desired to remove the roll, the end portion thereof adjacent the stub shaft 5 may be engaged and forced toward the opposite end of the rack. The pintle 8 will move inwardly of the shell 7 against the action of the spring 10, which will result in the disengagement of the key 13 from the slot 6 of the stub shaft whereby the roll may be easily removed from the rack.

In Figure 3 of the drawings, a slightly modified form of the invention is disclosed, wherein a base 1 is provided with end walls 2, and a hood 18. The towel strip 15 is wound over the bar 11 and roll 12, which are also constituents of this form of the invention. Although not shown in the drawings, the crank 16 is connected directly to the stub shaft 5, so that by the rotation thereof, the roll 12 and bar 11 will be actuated.

It is also to be understood that certain changes in the specific shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

claimed as new is:

A towel rack comprising a casing includingside Walls, one of which is provided with a bearing opening, a hollow bearing carried by the opposite end wall, a substantially U-shaped guide barincluding a longitudinally extending cross bar and side-legs, one: of said legs being provided with a stub shaft 7 received in said bearin'gopening'and having 15 o a bearing frecess, the other leg being provided with a bearing opening receiving the Having described the invention, what is hollow bearing member, a roller, pintles car'- ried by the opposite ends of the roller re ceived respectively in said hollow bearing member and in the bearingreoessin the stub shaftfand means for rotating the jstub shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature, 1. i 

